Aria was halfway through a pint of cookie dough ice cream, feet propped on the coffee table, and some mindless reality show playing in the background when her phone rang.
Ethan Cole.
She stared at the screen, debating. She hadn't seen him since their fake date two nights ago.
Since he'd looked at her like she was something worth chasing.
Since she'd practically sprinted into her building to avoid doing something reckless.
She let it ring twice more before answering.
"Cole."
"Lane," his voice was low, and there was a strange edge to it. "Are you home?"
"Uh, yeah. Why?"
A pause. Then — "I'm outside."
"What?"
Aria scrambled to the window, pulling the curtain back.
Sure enough, there he was. Standing under the streetlight like something straight out of a rom-com gone wrong. Dressed in a leather jacket, hair slightly messy like he'd been running a hand through it all night.
"Open the door," he said.
Aria rushed downstairs in pajama shorts and an oversized hoodie, her heart pounding.
She yanked the door open, glaring. "What the hell are you doing here?"
He blew out a breath. "Needed to see you."
"Why?"
"Because of him."
Aria blinked. "Who?"
He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and shoving the screen toward her.
A photo.
Of Aria at lunch earlier that day — with Noah.
Her stomach dropped.
"Gwen posted it," Ethan said tightly. "With the caption 'cutest lunch date.'"
"It wasn't a date," Aria snapped. "Noah's just a friend."
"Didn't look like it."
Aria crossed her arms. "Jealous, Cole?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he admitted, voice raw. "I am."
That stopped her.
"I'm an idiot," he continued, stepping closer. "I've been pushing and teasing and messing with you because it's easier than admitting what I actually feel."
Her breath caught.
"And what do you actually feel?"
Ethan gave a crooked smile, a little broken around the edges. "Like I'm falling for you, Lane. And it scares the hell out of me."
The world tilted under her feet.
"You're such an idiot," she whispered.
And then — because screw it — she grabbed his jacket and pulled him down into a kiss.
It wasn't careful. It wasn't controlled.
It was months of tension, banter, near-misses, and reckless, stupid, impossible feelings finally breaking through.
His hands slid into her hair, holding her like she might disappear. She broke away long enough to whisper, "I hate how good you are at this."
He grinned against her lips. "I could practice more. You know — for professional reasons."
She laughed, even as her heart threatened to explode.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Ethan rested his forehead against hers.
"No more games?" he asked.
"No more games," she agreed.
They stood like that, tangled up in each other, as the city hummed around them.
Aria had no idea what came next. If they'd screw it up, or if it'd be messy and complicated and entirely too much.
But for the first time, she didn't care.
Because Ethan Cole was hers.
And she was his.
God help them both....